Artyom Sarokin, a 30-year-old chef from Barnaul, has emerged victorious in the “Young Knives” culinary show on the Friday! TV channel. Sarokin shared his experiences on the show, including his decision to participate, his interactions with Chef Ivlev, and his significant weight loss journey.

Sarokin’s culinary journey began in 2013, with a childhood passion for cooking sparked by watching his mother prepare meals. He recalls making pancakes and pies for his mother. This early experience, which he highlighted on the show, laid the foundation for his culinary expertise.

After completing the 9th grade, Artyom pursued professional training while gaining practical experience in local restaurants, where he learned the importance of dish presentation. He avoided chain establishments, preferring to learn from diverse culinary professionals in independent restaurants. In 2016, Sarokin was part of the team that organized Barnaul’s first gastronomic dinner, a novel event format where guests could sample a variety of chef-created dishes. He previously won awards at gastronomic festivals.

Sarokin has been working as a chef for over five years, creating menus, experimenting with flavors, and leading culinary teams at a St. Petersburg restaurant. Finding Barnaul limiting, he relocated to St. Petersburg.

Artyom specializes in Italian, French, Russian, and Asian cuisines. His creative approach to cooking involves continuous experimentation to refine his dishes. He recognizes that guest preferences have shifted towards familiar, comforting meals, such as a cutlet with mashed potatoes.

Sarokin’s journey on “Young Knives” was not without challenges, but his previous competition experience helped. After a successful video submission, he quickly received his filming schedule. In the first round, he successfully recreated a Mari three-layer pancake dish. In the second round, he created a beef tataki dish called “Sea Calf” using only a burner, earning high praise from Chef Ivlev.

In the final challenge, Artyom prepared a chicken terrine featuring cucumbers, impressing Ivlev and securing his win. He admitted to some stress during the final round due to the cucumber requirement.

Beyond his culinary accomplishments, Artyom participated in the “Siberian Transformation” project, losing 16 kilograms in three months. He attributed his weight gain to a sedentary lifestyle despite working in a kitchen. His weight loss plan included regular gym visits and a diet that, at its most restrictive, involved consuming only 700 calories per day.